In a historic heavyweight championship match held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 18, 2024, Oleksandr Usyk emerged as the undisputed champion by defeating Tyson Fury via split decision. The victory marked the first time in nearly a quarter of a century that all heavyweight titles were unified under one fighter.
Usyk, who hails from Ukraine, came into the fight with an impressive record of 21-0 and held three out of the four major heavyweight titles: WBA, IBF, and WBO. Fury, on the other hand, was a formidable opponent with a perfect record of 34-0-1 and held the remaining title - WBC.
The highly anticipated bout lived up to expectations as both fighters displayed their exceptional skills throughout the twelve rounds. Usyk's relentless pressure and Fury's counterpunching abilities kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
Despite Fury's efforts to keep Usyk at bay, it was in the ninth round when things took a turn. A powerful left hook from Usyk sent Fury crashing to the canvas, leaving him wobbled around the ring. Although Fury managed to get back on his feet, he was visibly shaken and struggled to regain composure.
The judges' scorecards reflected a close fight with two of them favoring Usyk (115-112 and 114-113) while the third judge gave the nod to Fury (114-113). The split decision victory earned Usyk not only the WBC title but also cemented his place in boxing history as the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades.
The win was a significant moment for Usyk, who dedicated his victory to the Ukrainian military fighting off Russian forces at the border. Fury, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Usyk's achievement and expressed his intention to exercise the rematch clause in their contract for an October rematch.
The heavyweight division has seen its fair share of legendary champions such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield. With Usyk's undisputed title win, he joins the ranks of these boxing greats and sets a new standard for the future.
